Floating Islands

We are very excited to announce the addition of Floating Islands to our on going endeavourers to beautify our natural world. The Floating Islands are not only beautiful they are constructed of recycled materials and they remove pollutants from the water. Here are some interesting facts about the Floating Islands.

Floating Islands is an innovative water stewardship tool… BioHaven floating islands do five things:

1. They remove pollutants from a waterway, including nitrates, phosphates, ammonia and heavy metals

2. They provide critical riparian edge habitat – in fact, new land mass for use by all kinds of creatures, from microbes to humans

3. They sequester carbon and other greenhouse gases

4. They provide wave mitigation and erosion control

5. They beautify a waterscape Made from layers of recycled plastic “matrix” which are bonded together with adhesive foam, BioHavens are planted with sod, garden plants or wetland plants and launched onto a water body.

There the plants are allowed to grow naturally, and, as they develop, their roots grow through the matrix and into the water below. Over time, a natural eco-system evolves. The model for this is Nature herself - BioHavens “bio-mimic” Nature. We are part of a new branch of science, Biomimicry, or Biomimetics.BioHavens provide surface area for microbes to thrive. Microbes remove pollutants.

BioHavens are a concentrated floating wetland – the huge surface area of fibers provides many times more surface area than an equivalent stretch of bare wetland. Surface area is the key factor for microbial activity to take place, and microbes (bacteria) are the key to removing contaminants from the water. Plants and their roots are also important, but more for the extra surface area the roots provide than for any nutrient uptake the plants themselves account for.BioHavens were invented eight years ago, have been successfully trialed for five years and have been on the market since July 2005. They represent a natural, convenient and cost-effective solution for some of the most intractable and expensive problems on the planet:
· “Polishing” wastewater and storm water of nutrients and heavy metals to return it safely to the watershed.
· Sequestering carbon dioxide and methane from effluent ponds to reduce global warming
· Wave mitigation and protection of levees in the event of severe storms
· Extraction of salt

Mining nutrient loads from any waterway and reducing algal blooms
· Restoring wetlands without the need for new land
· Restoring habitat for endangered species such as the trumpeter swan.They can be made in any shape and size and offer some fun uses to balance the more serious side:
· Creating walkways, piers, docks, jetties

Supporting recreational uses, such as picnic tables, floating stages, gazebos….
· Floating vegetable gardens which never need watering!
· Restoring a natural look and balance to any waterway of any size
· New land mass for human habitation.Not only are they natural, aesthetic and functional, they are cost-effective, “green” and virtually maintenance free. Why not add a Floating Island to beautify your world?
Contact Howard at 1 800-291-2143

One Sure Fire Way To Relax!

The Enjoyment of Bird Watching
Such a simple thing to do and you don't have to travel at all to do it. Bird watching can be done right out your kitchen window. We love birdwatching at Ion Exchange Inc. and from The Natural Gait. There are so many varieties of birds to watch it is difficult to get any work done! Summer is full of Hummingbirds buzzing all around the office walkway busy drinking nectar from the feeders and the nearby wildflowers. With the onslaught of winter you can see the very cheery snow birds, cardinals and a dozen other brightly colored species.
I found this article on the enjoyment of bird watching that I wanted to share with you for the Holiday Season. Happy Holidays to all!
By: Thomas Kane
It is a popular hobby across the world. There are thousands of groups dedicated to watching birds at nature preserves, parks and recreational centers and even large groups that have annual conventions. You may be an individual dedicated to bird watching and enjoy going to parks on the weekends to observe birds. It is a fun and interesting hobby for anyone. Bird watching is relaxing. It is a very simple form of pleasure. Birds are symbols of love, hope and happiness. They remind us of simpler times before, TV, radios, videos and malls. Birds gently remind us to slow down and appreciate the simpler aspects of life. There are so many beautiful birds to observe, your efforts to see them all may be difficult. Some people keep track of the variety of species that they see and keep a journal. It is a never ending pursuit, as you could travel the world and still not see them all. Some people combine bird watching with other activities such as camping, hiking, kayaking and white water rafting. It is a great activity that will bring you back to nature. Birds are beautiful creatures. So many of them are brightly colored and fun to watch and observe. They seem to glide effortlessly through the air as they soar and swoop down for food and rest. And, their melodic voices are a treasure to listen to. You may hear a squawk or a shrill from some birds. But, some birds some chirpy and sweet as they sing you to work in the morning. Some people record their sounds and play them for relaxation. If you are looking for a fun, educational and safe activity for your children bird watching is a great, fun activity for everyone. Birds are sweet and harmless. It is a great educational activity for your children to do and they may learn something! Bird watching also calls attention to species and naturists keep track of what species may be declining. Conservationists keep track of behavioral patterns and migration information so they are able to track birds and maintain up to date records. Conservation starts at home. It is recommended that children learn about birds so that they are aware of the importance of conservation and protecting our environment. It will increase children's awareness of the natural beauty of parks, wildlife, oceans, lakes, mountains and trails. Children learn through doing and what better way to learn about blue birds than to actually observe one in their natural habitat. Bird watching is also a very inexpensive activity that involves little to no money. You may want to invest in a pair of binoculars but, other than that, the activity is not costly.